Depression

Acupuncture has long been used in China for the treatment of depression and anxiety. Chinese Medicine views depression as a form of 'stagnation'. More severe depression is viewed as a disconnection between body and mind.

Acupuncture treatment will involve you talking about your feelings in detail in order to help find the underlying causes of your problems. Acupuncture is often used in conjunction with other therapies like counselling.

Research compiled by the British Acupuncture Council show that “acupuncture can increase the production of seratonin in people with depression. Research has shown that acupuncture treatment can help ameliorate the symptoms of depression. In general, acupuncture is believed to stimulate the nervous system and cause the release of neurochemical messenger molecules. The resulting biochemical changes influence the body’s homeostatic mechanisms, thus promoting physical and emotional wellbeing.”

You can read more about recent research studies on acupuncture for depression here and follow the links to the British Acupuncture Council Factsheet by ARRC (Acupuncture Research Resource Centre).

There have been several studies published on the effectiveness of acupuncture for depression and anxiety. The British Acupuncture Council has collated several studies and published a report, concluding that “acupuncture could play a significant role in the treatment of depression and anxiety”:

A study in the USA published in the journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology suggested that acupuncture could be beneficial to women who suffer from depression during pregnancy. Read the article by Rebecca Smith in the Telegraph - ‘Acupuncture ‘helps depression’ in pregnancy’ - 23/2/10.